First-of-its kind tri-services conference Ran Samvad to take place in Army War College next week
The Ran Samvad will be hosted by the Army War College in Mhow on 26-27 August. ThePrint was the first to report on the initiative in June.
New Delhi: For the first time, the Indian armed forces will convene a tri-services dialogue led exclusively by serving officers, placing them at the forefront of debates on warfare.
Unlike most defence and security conferences, including those organised by the services, where panels are often dominated by veterans, diplomats or retired brass, Ran Samvad will feature only serving officers, the actual practitioners of war. They will drive the discussions on what changes are needed in equipment, tactics, organisation, training, operational art and strategy for the future.
The inaugural edition will centre on two themes—the impact of technology on warfare and the institutional reforms in training needed to ensure these advances are fully absorbed into military culture and doctrine.
'Technological advancements are changing the very nature and character of warfare,' Lt. Gen. Vipul Singhal, Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, said at a media briefing Wednesday. 'This has a direct effect on how practitioners think, plan and operate. The dialogue is meant to address these transitions and help shape the way forward.'
Elaborating on the themes, Brigadier Rupesh Sehgal said the first would cover discussions on emerging domains such as cyber, space, the electromagnetic spectrum and cognitive warfare, along with the growing role of unmanned and airborne systems. The second, he added, would focus on reforming training and institutions to ensure new technologies are not left unused but fully integrated into the way the armed forces fight.
Around 15 to 18 foreign defence attachés are expected to attend this edition of the event, with confirmed participation from countries including France, Australia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Armenia and the European Union.
In a press brief, the Ministry of Defence said that the future editions would also feature speakers from like-minded friendly foreign countries to ensure a more comprehensive exchange of insights.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will release three new unclassified joint military doctrines, with the first covering multi-domain operations, second focusing on special forces and the third featuring airborne and helicopter operations.
Also on the agenda is the release of the updated Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR), the defence ministry's main signalling document to the Indian industry. The TPCR spells out the capabilities the armed forces want to acquire in the coming years, giving companies a clearer sense of where to invest in research, development and partnerships.
Lt. Gen. Singhal added that although plans for Ran Samvad were drawn up well before Operation Sindoor, the way India integrated technological capabilities during the hostilities with Pakistan in May is expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: 'Next war may come sooner than expected, will require whole-of-nation approach'—Army chief
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